A months-long paint job aimed at extending the life of Rehoboth Beach’s drawbridge has begun.

In early October, the state reminded everyone the project was going to begin in the coming weeks, but Delaware Department of Transportation officials went into detail on the project during a meeting in April. Located on the far west end of Rehoboth Avenue, the drawbridge crosses the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. According to DelDOT, the bridge was constructed in 1986, is 169 feet long and 66 feet wide, and sees an average of 21,673 vehicles cross to and from Rehoboth daily. The bridge has had some spot painting performed throughout the years, but there are areas of active corrosion on the bridge, and it hasn’t been fully painted since 1996. There are no structural concerns.

The painting process started with the installation of a cocoon-looking containment system around the bridge that’s designed to catch all the old paint being removed and any overspray from when the new paint is being applied. The bridge’s steel will be covered in a three-coat system – zinc primer, epoxy coat, polyurethane top coat – and the concrete will be covered in a two-coat system – epoxy layer with silicone-acrylic paint. The bridge will still be green when it’s done. The estimated cost is about $820,000.

Work on the project is estimated to take 10 weeks, but the materials being used are very temperature sensitive, which is why the window for the contractor to complete the project runs to April 30, 2026.

The canal is open for boat traffic, but there are size restrictions because the drawbridge cannot be opened during construction.

Canal Street has been dead-ended near the bridge and will remain so throughout the duration of the project. Canal Street residents will have access the whole time, but other drivers are being detoured down Sixth Street and then toward the roundabout.

The Rehoboth drawbridge is among several bridges in the area getting painted by DelDOT, including five in Milford, one west of Milford and two in Seaford.